Dreaming of the deep blue

Tom and gang are going to Haeng Din for the weekend to dive! I've been making myself sick with envy the whole day coz I can't go.

Gosh... I feel so left behind and morose. I was supposed to go but I couldn't because of work. Anyway, just wanted to bitch about it and to share this wonderful picture I got online ages ago that I have on my desktop. Am working on getting leave in May to go to Sipadan... wish me luck...

Stop coughing!

I'm coughing so bad these days that it's most annoying. It's those type of short gun burst of coughs that's loud and intrusive. I know my colleagues cringe when they hear me cough. Even the other sections can hear me cough.

Argh! Get well already. It's been three weeks and going into the fourth week very soon.

Fuzzy wuzzy not because of love

"It's only coffee..."




It's that time of the year again and I absolutely refuse to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for myself, coz I have no one to "celebrate" this day with. But what I will do is get pissed off that guys only talk to me if they want to get into my pants.

Last week, I got picked up by this Irish guy in MPH. Picked up as in a successful attempt on his part as he got my email address. I thought he was nice at first but then he got really intense and started talking about sociology and how he hates the rights and wrongs of today's world, down to asking what I thought of Malaysian men. All these without me asking and in the space of 20 mins.

I found out that he's a tourist, has been down here to visit friends. And that he will be visiting Singapore before he goes home the coming Monday.

How'd this happen? I have no idea. One minute I was browsing and the next a man's voice asking, "So what would you recommend?" I was so blur.*sigh* I truly didn't expect to be picked up at a book store and certainly not a "qwai lo", and from Ireland to boot.

Since this year one of my resolutions were to be more open and not so choosy, I gave him my email address when he asked for my number. That was 7ish.

Next day, I checked my emails as usual and found an email from him in my inbox, dated the night before at 9ishpm. I'm always polite so I replied and wishing him a good time in singpore. Later in the day, he replied that he didn't go to Sg and if I wanted to go out for coffee. I thought to myself, "Why not? It's only coffee." So I set the date on Sunday and a time to meet up. Needless to say he didn't reply so we didn't meet up. Then late evening, he smses me from his friend's phone about how he had really wanted to see me and blah blah blah. I didn't ask why he couldn't make it. I just wished him safe journey home. He replied with an offer to meet up that night. Needless to say, since the next day is a working day, I didn't want to sleep late, so I decline his invite twice and he call me "Unadventurous". I was irritated naturally but I was still polite and turned him down, and again, wished him safe journey.

Eesh. As if I'm about to go meet a total stranger somewhere in the city, at night, by myself. My this year's resolution may call for open-mindedness but it sure as hell does not call for foolishness. 'Sides, he left Monday.

Happy 27th Birthday, Zona!

Who wants to see the very rare sight of Zona hugging the "throne"? Haha, we all got a peek when she got sloshed at her recent 27th birthday party at The Orange, Sri Hartamas last Friday night.



The night started our tamely, with both of us having Vietnamese for dinner at Midvalley after work.



Then, I grabbed my specially bought Smirnoff from home, and we reached The Orang very early. Just because there were only two of us doesn't mean that we can't start first. We did but not long after, Nas & Razlin got there. So we liberally shared the Smirnoff around. As the hour got later, more and more of Zona's friends came.





Soon there were 17 of us - Zona, Nazrul, Razlin, TV, Kai Leng, Elaine, Julia, Alicia the babe (her official title from now on, I think) Voon, her Reinhart, Angeline, Zona's brother Alda, Gavin, Alvin, Din, Zul & I were all happily celebrating Zona's birthday with her. By then we had finished my Smirnoff and started on Razlin's JD. Her cake came and I hope your wish comes true, Zona.



Then Alicia, on the theory that no birthday should pass without a Flaming Lamborgini and she's right, ordered one for our birthday girl. She sucked it down it easily enough, making faces and all but we know you lurve it...





Five minutes later, I turned around from chatting to Raz about spiritual possession, to see Zona on the floor, laughing and giggling, possesed by the "deity" we call alcohol! Ahahah! She's drunk! It was such a funny sight. ^_^

The next time I turned around, she was being dragged to the toilet to puke! Quickly, I went to help Naz drag her there. The moment we got to the toilet, she could still aim, and puked a lot of brown stuff (choc cake) into the sink.

Then, we managed to get her to the toilet bowl in time. It's good that she got most of the "EVIL flamin' lam" out, else it would've been even worse. So there she sat, hugging the porcelain throne, while "visitors" popped their concerned heads in and out of the toilet, checking to see if she"s ok. Everyone came to see Zona in the toilet. Surrealily, it was as though it was like a zoo attraction! Hee hee...



Naz played the romantic hero as he single-handedlyn carried her back to the lounge. The looks the other female patrons were giving Naz were priceless! His stock must have rose at least 10% then! Kidding! Haha... but by the time, he got to the couch, he slung her on it!

Even the bartender was worried, so he brought a glass of lime juice over to help settle her stomach. It was such a funny sight, coz you hardly ever see Zona soooo drunk, giggly, semi-conscious but still quipy and "ahem" whiney. The "evil flamin' lam" made her do it. Hee hee... See more pictures here.



Happy 27th Birthday, Zona! Looks like you greeted your new year with loads of fun, alcohol and style! *wink*

*Huggie HUG HUGS*

PGLtM - A Malaysian musical worth watching over and over

Thanks to TV Smith, Zona, Nas & I and a bunch of other (famous) bloggers got to go to see the much awaited Puteri Gunung Ledang Musical at Istana Budaya during the media preview night.



I have to admit that I strolled into the theater with low expectations and emerged star-strucked and awed that we actually have very talented people who pulled this off almost to the likes of Andrew Llyod Webber's calibre if not better. What better musical to see in Malaysia that is of one of our own history than that of a foreign one.



Wow... If you haven't seen PGLtM, I strongly urge you not to miss this chance to indulge in a night of heart-wrenching music, splendid costumes, and cauldron of talents in this tragic tale of love unfulfilled. For now, I will leave you with pictures taken by TV. I will complete my review over the weekend.



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Review continues...

The network might be working against me here by kicking me out of the system every few minutes thereby deleting my review a few paragraphs after I start. This is most annoying. Anyway, thinking back four nights ago, I'm still struck with admiration for the producers and cast of PGLtM for pulling this off.

I'm not going to talk about the story of PGL in detail except that this is a love story about a tragic tale between two lovers from two different land who came together unexpectedly and torn apart when one partner did not hold strong and true. Ironicly, its the man who failed his love by not going against his Sultan but then what is a lowly Laksamana to do? Bah.

Story aside, what struck me most (and the most enjoyable) was the score. Dick Lee made me feel awe when Scene 2 started with Tiara singing Impian Seorang Puteri. My first thought was "Wah, that woman can sing!" And Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina can sure sing. When Stephen started his solo scene, I think all the women in the crowd waited to be blown away and I can honestly say that I was, by the power and emotions floating out of our hero's mouth. I like the fact that he didn't force the notes out and took it easy on the high notes, but no less powerful. He reminded me of Gerard Butler's rendition of the Phamtom of The Opera pain-filled songs in the caverns.

The music peaked at Scene 7 when Gusti Puteri Raden Ajeng Retno Dumila (phew) and our handsome Datuk Laksamana Hang Tuah sang out their love and heartbreak at Gunung Ledang, and where she angrily gave the seven stipulations to the marriage offer of the Sultan of Melaka. I felt my heart catch at the hearbreak clearly sung by the talented Tiara. The entire score was so good catchy (!) that I can't wait to get my hands on the musical CD which they say will be available next week. But the catch is that you'll have to drive down to Istana Budaya to get the CDs as they aren't selling it anywhere else at the time.



Another (expected) good singer is of course the almost-local-looking Stephen Rahman-Hughes. Initially he was delivering his lines with the quite discernable qwai-lo accent but thankfully that soon gave way to a better / natural sounding lilt of the old tongue. I read in Kosmo that our almost-local boy here had pronounciation lessons and now he can even relate directions to taxi drivers. Well done, Stephen.



Another good point of this musical is the props and backdrops. The best backdrop had to be the Gates of the Melaka palace. The massiveness of the carved doors was just breathtaking. The props of the changing palace of Majapahit / cliffs/ gunung ledang on wheels were ingenious! I love the fact that they were so versatile that you can use them in various scenes depicting different landscapes. Kudos to Pat Gui, the Production / Stage Manager.

Although AC MIzal portrayed the princess's brother admirably as he sings okay, I thought that he should have at least gone for some serious sun-tanning coz for a King who is topless 24/7, he sure looks like pat champ kai (pastey). His brown nipples were fighting for attention with his brown sarong and they almost look decorative. Actually the ensemble for the guys wearing the Majapahit costumes too should be tanner at least. Anyway, just a thought.

While I am thankful that the producers made an effort to cater to people who didn't understand the language with English subtitles, it was a horrible decision to put the electronic sign at the top of the theater with people sitting below and right beneath it having to angle their necks back just to read it. Of course at that angle, the words were distorted. Not only that, but whoever was timing the subtitles sucked at this job. Keep up, man!

I have to say that once I stop thinking about the irritating negatives of the musical, I was able to totally enjoy myself.

Also another note to the producers: Whose idea was it to sell replicas of the costumes and armbands by Zang Toi at the show... I hate you. Who on earth can afford Zang Toi's stuff at a local musicals with prices like those? Poor broke me... I can only afford to buy the music CD.

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Seadevilyn!

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5. The first domain name ever registered was seadevilyn.com!
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7. During World War II, Americans tried to train seadevilyn to drop bombs.
8. While sleeping, fifteen percent of men snore, and ten percent grind their seadevilyn!
9. Seadevilyn is 984 feet tall!
10. All the moons of the Solar System are named after characters from Greek and Roman mythology, except the moons of Uranus, which are named after seadevilyn!

I am interested in - do tell me aboutherhimitthem

The red indian of Jalan Telipot

This Chinese New Year holiday is one pain after the other... I'm still sick as a puppy and I'm sunburnt to the max. Look at me now, and one would think that I'm a burnt victim. Haha. I'm so sunburnt that it's not even funny to point and laugh anymore. Well, that's not true coz my brother-in-law is still doing it. Sheesh.

We went to Tembila in Terengganu yesterday for some sun, sand and surf therapy and it was FUN. It's been a couple of years since we last been back there. Since it was the monsoon season, the waves were big and the undertow was strong and it got stronger as the day wore on. But that didn't stop us from jumping in and having a whale of a time and I say whale coz that's what we looked like, rolling in the waves and splashing like a beached whale. Early noon, the tide was still low and it revealed a sandbank in the middle of the sea. We swammed to it beached ourselves contentedly for a spell.

Anyway, I underestimated the power of the sun and decided to go shirtless and slathered on sunblock. It was not enough. I forgot to put more on when I came out of the water and I went a-exploring to the other end of the beach which is about 800 metres long and I walked about 500 metres to the tip and back again. By the time I got back, I was beet red. But that the time I didn't notice the burn... thought I was indestructible... haha... proved me wrong. Will pose up pictures of my burned upper body later. I tried to take a picture of it just now, but the night lighting doesn't show up the correct redness of my burn. Meanwhile here are some pictures of Tembila. No, I'm not putting pictures of myself in swimsuit here. It might blind you, coz I'm just so gorgeous. *wink*